Q. The Mishna in Avos says Hashem made the world with ten utterances to punish the wicked who destroy the world… and to reward the righteous who sustain it. So punishment is punished before reward. BUT in krias shema reward is mentioned before punishment. In the Rambam’s 13 Principles of Faith, I believe that Hashem rewards those who do His will and punishes those who transgress His will. Why in the mishna is punishment written first?

A. Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a mentioned that it reflects on the next mishnayos, that describe the nature of the first generations as angering Hashem by not being righteous and auspicious.
Tosafos Yom Tov and others explain that it is not at all a manifestation of Hashem’s desire to create a world in order to punish wrongdoers. On the contrary, it is a reflexion of His great chessed and goodness to all. As the word “lehipora” translates also “exacting payment,” meaning that Hashem granted free will to the humans he created, accompanied with the desires to be virtuous or evil. Giving them also the opportunity to mend mistakes done and the ability to repay and repair the wrongs done. Had the world been created with just one single utterance, it would be very tough to fix and rebuild a world destroyed. When the damage is limited, it is easier to mend and heal.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a